Why Birds Get Trapped in the Eye of Hurricanes

Introduction

Hurricanes often dominate headlines with images of damaged homes and flooded streets, but they also pose serious threats to wildlife, especially birds.

On October 27, 2025, the National Hurricane Center’s “Hurricane Hunters” reported a striking phenomenon during Hurricane Melissa: flocks of birds were trapped in the storm’s eyewall. The alert, known as a Vortex Data Message, simply stated, “Birds in eyewall,” highlighting how the hurricane’s immense winds swept them into the storm’s core. Once caught, escaping the calm yet confined eye becomes nearly impossible, leaving the birds at the mercy of the storm.

This remarkable event underscores the extreme challenges birds face during hurricanes. This article explores why birds get trapped in the eye of hurricanes, how hurricane dynamics affect migratory birds, and what these extreme weather events mean for their survival.

Hurricane waves crashing into the sea wall that protects Palisadoes Strip, with the ocean and road visible

Waves are crashing into the sea wall that protects Palisadoes Strip, the route to Norman Manley International Airport, in Kingston, Jamaica, on Saturday.
Photo by Ricardo Makyn/ Agence France‑Presse via Getty Images

How Hurricane Structure Traps Birds in the Storm’s Eye

To understand why birds get trapped in a hurricane, it’s essential first to understand the storm itself. Hurricanes, also known as tropical cyclones, are massive rotating weather systems fueled by warm ocean waters, characterized by strong winds, torrential rainfall, and low-pressure centers. A hurricane is composed of several distinct parts, each playing a unique role in the storm’s behavior:

The Eye

The eye is the calm center of the hurricane, typically 20–50 miles (32–80 km) wide. Within the eye, wind speeds drop dramatically, often below 10 mph (16 km/h), and skies may even appear clear. Despite its peaceful appearance, the eye is surrounded by the storm’s most dangerous zone—the eyewall. For birds, the eye provides a temporary respite from the extreme turbulence, but it is also a trap: the surrounding eyewall forms a ring of deadly conditions that can prevent escape.

Photo by Alexander Gerst, via Wikimedia Commons , Public Domain.

The Eyewall

Encircling the eye, the eyewall contains the hurricane’s strongest winds and heaviest precipitation. Wind speeds here can exceed 150 mph (240 km/h) in major hurricanes, generating lethal gusts, flying debris, and torrential rainfall. For humans, the eyewall is the most destructive part of the storm, and for birds, it is nearly impossible to fly against these forces. Many birds that enter the eyewall are forced inward, ultimately drifting into the eye, where they are temporarily trapped.

Diagram showing the structure of a hurricane with the eye, eyewall, and rainbands, illustrating how birds can become trapped in the calm center surrounded by severe winds.

Hurricane Structure Diagram: Eye, Eyewall, Rainbands, and Outflow

Rainbands

Extending outward from the eyewall are the rainbands—spiraling bands of heavy rain and wind that can stretch hundreds of miles. These bands contain turbulent air currents, gusts, and squalls, making flight extremely challenging. Birds caught in the rainbands often experience strong updrafts that lift them far from their usual migratory paths, sometimes carrying them over open ocean or inland areas far from their natural range.

While the eyewall is deadly due to its extreme winds, the eye is relatively calm, ironically turning it into a temporary trap for birds swept into the storm. Understanding these structural differences is key to explaining why even strong fliers can become confined in the eye for hours.

Photograph of rainbands in Hurricane Isidore captured by NOAA, showing spiral cloud bands wrapping around the storm’s eye.

Rainbands photo by NOAA, via Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain.

Birds are remarkable navigators. Many species migrate thousands of miles using celestial cues, the Earth’s magnetic field, and environmental landmarks. However, hurricanes disrupt these natural navigational systems. As birds are swept up into storm systems, several factors contribute to their being trapped in the eye:

Strong Updrafts and Wind Currents: Hurricanes generate powerful updrafts that can carry birds hundreds of miles off their normal migratory path. Birds attempting to escape may find themselves pushed toward the eye.
Disorientation: The combination of darkness, heavy rain, and turbulent winds can confuse birds. Their usual cues for orientation are masked, making the calm eye seem like a safe haven.
Energy Conservation: Once in the eye, birds experience a sudden drop in wind intensity. It allows them to rest and conserve energy before being forced back into the storm’s chaos.

Hurricanes reveal how delicate bird navigation really is. Under clear skies, migratory birds follow precise routes and formations — but once a storm hits, their sense of direction quickly unravels. Learn more in Bird Migration Routes and Formations.

Flock of birds flying in a hurricane, showing how hurricanes affect bird flight and navigation.

Image by Michael from Pixabay

Why Birds See the Hurricane Eye as a Temporary Refuge

Observations from hurricanes show that many birds are found flying or hovering within the eye for hours. Despite being in the heart of a deadly storm, the eye provides a relative respite. This occurs for several reasons:

Reduced Wind Stress: In the eyewall, birds struggle against gusts exceeding 100 miles per hour. In contrast, the eye’s winds may drop to under 10 mph.
Opportunity to Reorient: With a temporary break from turbulent conditions, birds may adjust their orientation and prepare for further movement.
Predator Avoidance: The eyewall’s violent winds and rain are lethal for most predators, making the eye a momentarily safer environment.

Interestingly, the calmness of the eye can also be deceptive. Birds resting in the eye are still surrounded by the storm’s destructive eyewall. Once the eye moves, it must contend again with extreme conditions.

A flock of birds flying through the calm eye of a hurricane surrounded by dark storm clouds.

Case Studies: Birds in Hurricane Eyes

Several documented events illustrate this phenomenon:


Hurricane	Year	Bird Species	Observation
Isabel	2003	Terns, Shearwaters	Researchers reported seabirds observed within or near the eye region over the Atlantic. These birds appeared to be following the storm’s center, possibly seeking calmer air rather than being completely trapped.
Katrina	2005	Pelicans, Gulls	Birdwatchers reported unusual sightings far inland, suggesting birds were carried by the hurricane and may have followed the calmer air near its center before dispersing.
Dorian	2019	Frigatebirds	Satellite tracking of tagged birds revealed prolonged periods within the eye over the Bahamas, showing that even large, strong fliers can be confined by hurricane dynamics.

Documented cases of birds trapped in the eyes of hurricanes, including Hurricane Isabel, Katrina, and Dorian, highlight the impact of extreme weather on migratory and coastal bird species in the Atlantic and Caribbean regions.

These cases show that being trapped in a hurricane eye is not limited to small birds; even powerful migratory species can fall victim.

Which Bird Species Are Most Vulnerable During Hurricanes

Not all birds are equally susceptible to becoming trapped in a hurricane. Several biological and behavioral factors determine how well a species can withstand extreme weather.

Flight Ability

Weaker fliers, such as small songbirds or juvenile birds, are more likely to be caught in the storm’s powerful updrafts and circular wind patterns. In contrast, strong and agile fliers like frigatebirds and albatrosses can often maneuver away from danger, although even they have been documented trapped in hurricane eyes when wind speeds surpass their limits.

Migration Patterns

Birds that follow coastal or open-ocean migration routes face a higher likelihood of encountering hurricanes. For example, terns, shearwaters, and petrels are often caught in tropical cyclones during their long transoceanic flights. Land birds like warblers and thrushes migrating over the Gulf of Mexico are also at risk when a hurricane forms unexpectedly along their route.

A Gould’s Petrel flying over open ocean during migration, representing seabirds that face high risk of encountering hurricanes along transoceanic routes.

Photo by JJ Harrison , via Wikimedia Commons , licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .

Behavioral Traits

Species that rely heavily on visual navigation, such as gulls and pelicans, may become disoriented in reduced visibility, while birds using geomagnetic or olfactory cues, like pigeons or storm-petrels, tend to cope better in low-visibility conditions. Still, the sheer turbulence of a hurricane can overwhelm even these adaptations, forcing birds to seek temporary refuge in the calm of the storm’s eye.

In short, while seabirds have evolved to handle strong oceanic winds, no bird species is completely immune to hurricane forces. The combination of flight strength, migratory route, and navigational strategy ultimately determines whether a bird escapes or becomes trapped within the storm.

A seagull flies over stormy ocean waves under dark clouds, showing how seabirds struggle to navigate and survive during hurricanes.

Photo by Raul Kozenevski on Unsplash

How Hurricanes Affect Bird Survival and Migration

Being trapped in the eye of a hurricane is risky. While the eye provides a temporary haven, birds eventually must navigate through the eyewall. Survival outcomes vary:

Energy Depletion: Extended flight in storm conditions consumes vast amounts of energy. Birds may face exhaustion and starvation.

Injury: Collisions with debris, trees, or buildings after leaving the eye can cause injury or death.
Displacement: Birds can be carried hundreds or thousands of miles from their normal range, affecting breeding and feeding patterns.

Despite these dangers, some species exhibit remarkable resilience. Many seabirds, for example, can recover quickly and resume normal migration after the storm.

Dead bird hanging on wire at Steinhatchee Marina after hurricane

Photo by CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP via Getty Images

Scientific Insights: Tracking Birds in Hurricanes

Modern tracking technology has improved our understanding of bird behavior during hurricanes. GPS tags, satellite telemetry, and radar imaging allow scientists to observe how birds interact with storm systems. Key insights include:

Birds often attempt to circumnavigate storms, but strong hurricanes can overwhelm their flight capabilities.
The eye of a hurricane can act as both a trap and a temporary resting zone.
Survival rates vary by species, age, and condition prior to entering the storm.

These studies not only advance ornithology but also provide broader insights into how climate change may increase hurricane frequency and intensity, potentially impacting migratory birds on a larger scale.

Image shows a bird, satellite telemetry, and a hurricane vortex illustrating how technology improves understanding of storm navigation.

Conclusion

The phenomenon of birds trapped in the eye of hurricanes illustrates both the vulnerability and resilience of avian species. While hurricanes can displace, exhaust, or endanger birds, the calm center of the storm provides a brief respite—an unexpected lifeline in a chaotic environment.

As climate change continues to influence storm frequency and intensity, understanding these interactions becomes increasingly important for conservation efforts. Scientists, birdwatchers, and wildlife enthusiasts can all play a role in monitoring bird populations and supporting habitats that help birds recover from natural disasters.

Ultimately, the story of birds in hurricane eyes is a reminder of nature’s complex dynamics, the challenges faced by migratory species, and the extraordinary ways wildlife adapts to survive in an ever-changing world.

A seabird flying gracefully under a calm sky after a heavy storm, symbolizing resilience and recovery in nature.

Image by David Bawm from Pixabay

FAQs About Birds and Hurricanes

Where do birds go when a hurricane hits?

When a hurricane approaches, most birds try to escape by flying away from the storm’s projected path. Migratory species may divert hundreds of miles to avoid the strongest winds. However, some birds—especially seabirds or those caught off guard—get pulled into the outer rainbands and may end up trapped in the hurricane’s eye. Others seek temporary shelter on the leeward sides of trees, cliffs, or buildings, where wind and rain are less intense.

What is the last bird to leave during a hurricane?

Seabirds such as frigatebirds, gulls, and terns are often among the last to leave when a hurricane forms. These species are highly adapted to life over open water and can handle strong winds better than most birds. However, their confidence can work against them—many end up circling within the storm’s eye, unable to escape until the system weakens. Land birds, by contrast, tend to flee much earlier when they sense dropping air pressure and changes in wind direction.

Why are there no birds after a hurricane?

After a hurricane, the landscape changes dramatically—trees are stripped of leaves, food sources are scarce, and many habitats are destroyed. Birds may temporarily disappear as they seek safer areas with available shelter and food. Some species migrate farther inland, while others rest and recover before returning. Over time, as vegetation regrows and insects or seeds become abundant again, local bird populations gradually rebound.

Can all bird species survive hurricanes?

Survival depends on factors like flight ability, migration patterns, and behavioral traits. Strong fliers and species adapted to open-ocean travel, like seabirds, often survive, while weaker fliers or birds relying on visual navigation are more vulnerable.

How do hurricanes affect migratory birds?

Hurricanes can displace migratory birds hundreds of miles from their normal routes, exhaust their energy reserves, and interfere with breeding or feeding. Some birds may even use tailwinds from storms to accelerate migration, though this is risky.

Introduction

Hurricanes often dominate headlines with images of damaged homes and flooded streets, but they also pose serious threats to wildlife, especially birds.